Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 738,872	$ 847,553	$ 863,305	$ 1,414,707	$ 1,783,836	$ 1,813,762	$ 1,616,981	$ 1,589,618	$ 3,864,437	$ 6,804,197	$ 6,152,015
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(75,081)	(6,301)	39
Investment income (loss)									2,308	11,831	96,577
Total revenues and other income									3,791,664	6,809,727	6,248,631
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									2,371,436	4,505,064	3,981,828
General and administrative expenses									324,328	500,036	479,890
Research and Engineering									41,253	49,698	45,440
Depreciation and amortization									970,459	1,145,100	1,086,677
Interest expense									181,928	177,948	223,418
Impairment and other charges									368,967	1,027,423	287,241
Other, net									(39,172)	9,073	37,977
Total costs and other deductions									4,219,199	7,414,342	6,142,471
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(427,535)	(604,615)	106,160
Income tax expense (benefit)									(98,038)	62,666	(55,181)
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend										1,984	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(161,090)	(250,879)	(41,890)	124,362	(886,401)	102,430	65,729	48,977	(329,497)	(669,265)	158,341
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,730)	(45,275)	5,025	(817)	(4,467)	4,005	(1,032)	1,515	(42,797)	21	(11,179)
Net income (loss)									(372,294)	(669,244)	147,162
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(834)	320	44	89	(202)	(387)	(253)	(573)	(381)	(1,415)	(7,180)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (163,654)	$ (295,834)	$ (36,821)	$ 123,634	$ (891,070)	$ 106,048	$ 64,444	$ 49,919	(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(351,407)	(653,124)	158,445
Investment income (loss)											1
Total revenues and other income									(351,407)	(653,124)	158,446
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									8,768	9,531	11,111
Interest expense									(1)
Other, net									12,469	7,668	7,353
Intercompany interest expense									32	336
Total costs and other deductions									21,268	17,535	18,464
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Net income (loss)									(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest											(7,180)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(41,826)	(120,996)	191,821
Investment income (loss)									584	1,869	75
Intercompany interest income									6,452	2,415	92
Total revenues and other income									(34,790)	(116,712)	191,988
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									1	8,001	796
Depreciation and amortization									705	3,608	3,610
Interest expense									201,364	198,246	234,512
Other, net										(223)	211,976
Total costs and other deductions									202,070	209,632	450,894
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(236,860)	(326,344)	(258,906)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(72,163)	(75,979)	(166,769)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(164,697)	(250,365)	(92,137)
Net income (loss)									(164,697)	(250,365)	(92,137)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(164,697)	(250,365)	(92,137)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									3,864,437	6,804,197	6,152,015
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(75,081)	(6,301)	39
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(164,697)	(250,365)	(92,137)
Investment income (loss)									11,666	16,265	101,047
Intercompany interest income										336
Total revenues and other income									3,636,325	6,564,132	6,160,964
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									2,371,436	4,505,064	3,981,828
General and administrative expenses									316,119	483,091	468,560
Research and Engineering									41,253	49,698	45,440
Depreciation and amortization									969,754	1,141,492	1,083,067
Interest expense									(19,435)	(20,298)	(11,094)
Impairment and other charges									368,967	1,027,423	287,241
Other, net									(52,201)	1,041	(181,929)
Intercompany interest expense									6,420	2,415	92
Total costs and other deductions									4,002,313	7,189,926	5,673,205
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(365,988)	(625,794)	487,759
Income tax expense (benefit)									(25,875)	138,645	111,588
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend										1,984	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(340,113)	(766,423)	373,171
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(42,797)	21	(11,179)
Net income (loss)									(382,910)	(766,402)	361,992
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(381)	(1,415)	(7,180)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(383,291)	(767,817)	354,812
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									557,930	1,024,485	(258,129)
Investment income (loss)									(9,942)	(6,303)	(4,546)
Intercompany interest income									(6,452)	(2,751)	(92)
Total revenues and other income									541,536	1,015,431	(262,767)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(560)	(587)	(577)
Other, net									560	587	577
Intercompany interest expense									(6,452)	(2,751)	(92)
Total costs and other deductions									(6,452)	(2,751)	(92)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									547,988	1,018,182	(262,675)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									547,988	1,018,182	(262,675)
Net income (loss)									547,988	1,018,182	(262,675)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest											7,180
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									$ 547,988	$ 1,018,182	$ (262,675)